Denise Hunter's Before We Were Us is a beautifully written story about a woman dealing with memory loss, working through a life of memories to come to a point of healing and rebuilding her relationship. Jonah staying with her through this process is so sweet even though Lauren is not the easiest. It was a well written and emotional read.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter

This was such a cozy read! I fell in love with Jonah from the very first page. This was incredibly sweet, and a well written depiction of a loved one with amnesia/concussion.
Lauren was a little rough around the edges, and it made my heart break for Jonah even more. Other than that this was a great book.

Before we Were Us is the newest release for 2024 by Denise Hunter. This explores the "lost memory" trope. But it is a little different as it isn't that the leading lady Lauren can't remember Jonah, it's that she DOES and it's NOT a good memory! On the day he plans to propose, there is a tragic accident and she survives, but has lost FOUR months of her memories. And those four months are the months that she fell in love with Jonah and also changed her career plans drastically.

The rest of the book gives us snapshots back in time to how Jonah wooed Lauren. And then at the same time it is present day as she deals with the loss of memory and her now strange relationships she has with everyone--much less Jonah. She can clearly see how BROKEN Jonah is from losing her due to her amnesia. And so she strives to try to understand why she went from strong dislike to love.

Throw in there that Lauren is a child from the foster system and struggles with relationships and abandonments. And Jonah as an orphan adopted by his aunt, struggles with is own demons about self-imposed feeling like he's on the outside of the family.

It's just a very lovely book with messages of hope. The characters pray and clearly have a relationship with the Lord. So I would definitely qualify it as a Christian Fiction.

*I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

4 stars out of 5.

This book was a heartfelt romance book that had me hooked from the beginning. I really loved both Jonah and Lauren and thought they had undeniable chemistry through out the book. This book was written in past and present tense so we were able to see how their relationship started off then how it blossomed. The ending was spectacular and wrapped everything up perfectly. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a touching romance book.

In Before We Were Us, Lauren is working at a resort in New Hampshire where she worked for Jonah and his family. The resort has been in Jonah's family for a while and it was picturesque. One day while Lauren was looking over the new barn she fell and was rushed to the hospital. Once she woke up she did not remember her whole summer, including how she feel in love with Jonah. Jonah was a stranger to her which was hard for him. Would Lauren get her memory back? Jonah sure hoped so, since he was deeply in love with her.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

3.5/5 ⭐️ This was an incredibly sweet romcom that pulls at your heart strings. Denise Hunter does an incredible job of describing the location so much so that you feel like you can step into the pages and be there.

My only complaint has to do with the formatting of this copy. I understand that it is still being tweaked and revised, but the way this arc file was formatted made it difficult to read at times.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are solely my own

"Before We Were Us" by Denise Hunter is a touching story about love and second chances. Set in a rural New Hampshire resort, it follows Lauren and Jonah as they navigate the challenges of amnesia and rebuilding their relationship. Hunter's characters feel real and relatable, and her storytelling is heartfelt and emotional. With its vivid setting and compelling narrative, "Before We Were Us" is a captivating read that will leave a lasting impression.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter was an incredibly good book that made me ugly cry in more than one spot, but every tear was worth it.

Lauren is working at a resort in rural New Hampshire on her way to her dream job, and while there, falls in love with Jonah, the son of the resort's owners. While there she falls off a ladder and wakes up in the hospital with amnesia and has lost the last four months of her life - including her meeting and falling in love with Jonah.

Jonah vows to stay by Lauren's side while she remembers or DOESN'T remember him and to help her find her way back to her life, but Lauren doesn't know if she wants to remember the last four months and she may just want to go ahead with her life as it is now.

I felt so much for Jonah, his love, hopeless, and determination.

The story of the after effects of her accident were heart wrenching and I'm not going to lie, I got mad at Lauren at times, but she redeemed herself in the end.

This was my first book by this author, but this book is so good, I'm going to find her backlist and read it all!

This ARC was given to me by NetGalley and the publishers for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have very high expectations & standards when it comes to a romance/love story. Denise Hunter is a new author to me & she exceeded my expectations with Before We Were Us. This book is beautifully written, well developed characters, and has the ability to evoke very intense emotions while reading it. Hunter will break your heart, numerous times throughout this book, but manages to piece it back together just as many times. If you want a book to make you ugly cry, in a good way, this is the one for you~

Thank you NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC copy of this book.

Denise Hunter is one of three authors that try to read every book they write. Denise’s latest book,“Before we were us”, is another of her’s that I will read again and again. Through the years I have read several books from other authors where someone loses their memory, but this is entirely different from any I have read.

One of the main character, Lauren, has a chance to have a dream job in event planning. The requirement is that she works first at a family-owned resort to get experience. Here she meets Jonah, the future owner and her boss. She is not impressed with him. Her opinion changes through the summer and eventually grows into love. It all changed in a moment. As she was climbing down a ladder, she fell and hit her head. She lost her memory of the last four months.
The last she remembered she didn’t like Jonah and surely not love him. This is a story of second chances. Can he win her heart again or will she take that dream job in another city?

Loved the book and highly recommend it. "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This was such a heartwarming read. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, all of it. The writing was superb!! I can't believe I've never read anything from this author previously. She has such a beautiful way of weaving a story, and I love reading about places l've been to (New Hampshire, White Mountains etc), it makes me feel more immersed in the setting. If you are looking for a sweet, non spicy romance this one is definitely for you!
Thanks to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter! It broke my heart and piece by piece put it back together again. I loved having both Lauren and Jonah’s perspectives so I never had to guess what the other was feeling. I got so invested that I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and Denise Hunter for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was gifted to me by NetGalley and all the opinions are mine alone.
I enjoyed this story. I found the accident that Lauren suffered was distressing because she had found love with Johan. I loved them working together to make this picturesque country resort so cozy. I especially was happy with the relationship with graham. Overall was a delightful, charming story.

Let me start off by saying I love all of Denise Hunters books and this one is no exception. However, this is not a favorite of mine. It seemed very predictable and like it was missing something. Good easy read but not a favorite for sure.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
I loved the premise of the book. I also loved Jonah but if I am being honest I did not like Lauren. Her character after she fell was not the kind of person that I would want to be around. The way she treated Jonah made my heart hurt for him. Yes, there is a HEA so hang in and you will get there.

Before We Were Us is a classic love story involving memory loss and its aftermath. Denise Hunter has written an amnesia story before, but this one has a more somber feel to it. Lauren Wentworth and Jonah Landry have fallen in love, but a fall wipes Lauren's recent memory right out. Readers will experience each challenging moment as they try to find their way back to "before". It's worth the effort though, the chemistry between Lauren and Jonah sizzles. Hunter writes the best romantic scenes and there are plenty to enjoy.

At the very center of the story the question begs to be asked, is the perfect dream job or goal more valuable than the perfect love and home? Does a person have to choose, or can they have both? This is a great book to test those beliefs and choices out!

I appreciate Thomas Nelson Fiction making a copy of Before We Were US available for review. All thoughts and onions are my very own.

I really enjoyed this emotional amnesia story from Denise Hunter. The characters are great, the setting makes me want to go to New Hampshire, and the plot twists add a lot. There are fun, humorous incidents interspersed with the discouraging times. And then there’s the dog!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #BeforeWeWereUs #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged throughout the whole thing. I couldn’t wait to get home from work and pick it back up again.

A beautiful story about falling in love twice and the torturous ways your mind and past shape and affect your present, “Before We Were Us”, by Denise Hunter, is also a well written and researched depiction of amnesia.
I loved how Jonah and Lauren go from antagonism to love twice and how they deal with the effects of her concussion/traumatic brain injury and amnesia.
For Lauren, not always a nice character, it’s her past, her need for stability and roots, playing havoc with confusing decisions before the fall. The bewilderment of being told she’s in love with a man she’s supposed to dislike is amazing, as is her perplexity with other issues.
Jonah is such a wonderful character, with so much to lose because of Lauren’s memory loss. The pain, hurt and helplessness are poignant, and so is his thoughtful, selfless and caring nature.
I liked Lauren’s “city girl” dimensions showing how skilled she is with the limited resources she has.
This is also a story about homesickness, for a time, an amnesic loved one, a place or people you’re fond of.
I loved watching Lauren’s self-discovery and remembrance journey finding where her real home (and heart) is.
I also liked how the leads’ pasts and childhoods shaped their presents, particularly Lauren’s.
The story has great secondary characters and a sweet dog, too.

This is a wonderful love story. Lauren and Jonah meet and have a not great relationship until they do. After an accident, Lauren does not remember that she is in love with Jonah. She is shocked that she gave up her "dream job" to stay in NH and takes it out on Jonah. Bless his patience and love. This is a heartfelt love story and I highly recommend it. I was given an advanced reader copy and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this charming and heartwarming book.
The book is centered on couple Lauren and Jonah who work at Jonah's family resort of cabins in rural New Hampshire. Lauren has a dangerous fall and forgets the last several month. She remembers arriving to the resort and having a frosty start with Jonah but she doesn't remember them falling in love. The book goes back and forth in time between the present and them falling in love over the summer.
The book was very cozy and reminds me of a Hallmark movie with a more sad and deep plot. The descriptions of the resort were really nice and had a wonderful feel.
I felt bad for Jonah often because it felt like Lauren was being a little too harsh on him. I also felt like the doctor Carson could have been used as a bigger plot point. It was still an enjoyable and relaxing book to read.