3.50
There is a lot going on in this short book. The main thing that is going on is lying. Spouses lying to each other, children lying to parents. Parents lying to their children. They lie to their “friends” also. No one is telling anyone what is actually happening.
There is also so much going on, maybe too much. There is a long lost daughter, a new pregnancy, and a secret romance, there are so many story lines. There are also three points of view. The story is split between mom Ellie, Jack the husband and the daughter Sydney. It’s not a bad read it’s just a lot to happen in a short amount of pages that you lose focus. I did like the main character Ellie but I didn’t like the daughter Sydney or the husband Jack as much. I also felt like when Ellie finds out that Jack isn’t having an affair it was a long, lost daughter, it was fine. It was a quick conversation and it was resolved. Or when dad sees Sydney at school with a much older guy he just lets it go. He never brings it up until it’s mentioned that Sydney saw him with Hailey. It just doesn’t feel very fleshed out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book has been on my TBR list since 2019, and after several attempts, I can't seem to get into it. Sorry!

Jack and Ellie have a seemingly perfect life - three kids, happy in their careers, wonderful life in a suburban town. Very quickly, some actions of their past have come to haunt them. Jack has a person from is past who suddenly appears that uncovers a decades old secret. Their sixteen year old daughter, Sydney is entering the teenage years when she begins to act out and then Ellie find out surprising news that could change the rest of their lives as a family.

I loved this book as it told a good, engaging story, depicting challenges that face many families (just maybe not all at once). It was a quick, easy read for me.

I wanted to like this one but unfortunately I couldn’t get into the story. I found it hard to connect with the characters and almost a little too predictable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a family drama told in alternating perspectives. Jack and Ellie have three kids and Jack is contacted by a young woman claiming to be his daughter. At the same time, their daughter Sydney takes up with an older college boy. Lots of drama.

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. It was so sweet, fun, and I loved it! I was very invested in the characters and their stories. This is a must read for those who enjoy rom coms and I will be recommending it to my friends. I hope to see future books from this author in the future. Thanks again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book/

First Came Us was an interesting and ultimately heartfelt family drama. Jack and Ellie Miller have a picture perfect life: Jack, a successful Yale University Professor, his wife Ellie owner of a very busy yoga studio, and their three kids. Without warning, a young woman shows up in Jack’s office disrupting his life, unexpected news finds Ellie re-evaluating her life, and 16 year old Sydney develops a relationship with a college student after lying about her age. As life starts to spiral downhill, they have to rely on each others’ love to make their family whole again.

This was such a realistic view of a family working through a disruption, growing apart, and trying to find their way back to each other. While my heart broke at times, I loved the character development and hopefulness.

Ugh sometimes I am such an idiot. I mean I really just do stupid things. Take a few seconds and tell me if you’ve done this one too.

So what do you think about independently published books? The thing is, I never really thought about them. Really, I mean they were just books that some no-name published themselves, and other than a quick glance, I never even gave them a second thought. Until now. Have you noticed how many people are independently publishing their books? I mean even big named authors and people we all know are jumping into this game. It doesn’t even need a second thought anymore to pick up an inde book, you just do it on first thought with no reservations.

This is where my stupidity comes into play.
Here I am reviewing books online as a hobby, and working with some great PR people who ask me to read and review for them. OF COURSE. So without a doubt I am willing to read First Came Us by Rachel Cullen. This will be my first book from her, I am told she has 3 previous novels that have done well.

Commence reading.

This book is awesome. Told in 3 different points of view from the main characters, we learn a lot about family, love, and keeping secrets. When Jack, Ellie and their daughter Sydney each run into their own individual problems, ones they prefer to keep to themselves, they become so self absorbed that they start to miss the important things going on around them. Of course things start to crumble and Sydney starts down a path of destruction. As the secrets are revealed, this family suddenly learns that they need to come together, or else everything they built together may just fall apart.

Rachel Cullen sucks you in immediately with this book and you feel like you are right inside these characters minds. Each and every one of them are relatable and I felt like I was right there living in that house. The family drama could have been my own! I read this one in one sitting, and the storyline kept me turning the pages. What an enjoyable read. Rachel Cullen’s writing is smooth and inviting and I will definitely keep reading her books.  4 Stars from me.

Look at that! Really, honestly and truly, I just said that about an independently published book. Think….. how many amazing authors and books have I missed out on by not considering picking up a book that is independently published? Could I really have been that stupid? Yes, it appears I can. God what an idiot. I know for certain I won’t allow myself to ever be so close-minded again. How many of you can say to yourself you’ve done the same?

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Thank you Rachel Cullen and Kate Rock Book Tours for my copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The writing style of this novel felt incredibly juvenile to me, and would have benefited from a stronger editing session. The characters did not feel genuine.

First Came Us by Rachel Cullen is just the type of book I love-a great character driven, family drama. Jack is an economics professor at Yale who has a visitor from the past he wasn’t aware of; Ellie has a visitor from the present and future who she’s not sure is welcome or wanted, and who makes her remember a visitor from the past; and Sydney is navigating her present circumstances as a “cool nerd” as she struggles with school and relationships. I really enjoyed these characters and their stories.

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy.

First Came Us by Rachel Cullen is a quick read that explores what makes a marriage. Jack and Ellie Cullen appear to have the perfect marriage and family. But, nothing is as it seems. When a secret is uncovered, the foundation upon which this perfection is built upon comes tumbling down, and the resulting story is the aftermath. There are some elements of the story that could have been explored more, but the book is still engaging.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This story was an easy read but for some reason it didn't click with me and I did not enjoy it as much as I would have thought.

The first half of the story is so cute, so typical mom in midlife crisis mode.. but then it takes a turn

1) Jack's full name should be Jack-ass
2) What kid willingly changes high school for their senior year?
3) Things end a little too perfectly.. That's wrong - there isn't a happy wonderful, cue the sappy music ending - but its all wrapped up neatly in a bow. Actually - scratch that... the gift at the end definitely needs some strong violin music..

That being said - it was a super cute read and I'd be interested in seeing where their next chapter takes them...

This book and I did not mesh. I did not like the writing style and the characters felt very one dimensional to me. Most of all, there were three point of views and other than the situations given, there were times where I forgot which perspective I was reading about because all of the characters felt the same. The author attempted to tackle too much with this novel, and the way in which the problems were solved in the end just did not work.

Ellie and Jack have everything figured out. when a few surprises come barreling their way into the mix. Some potentially damaging upheavals have them figuring out how to deal with their personal surprises and continue to be parents at the same time. It was interesting to see them each take a different approach to the issues, typical of their characters, and realistic at a male/female approach to life's struggles. Overall, a little more communication would have solved the majority of the problems, but then it would have made the already quick read even quicker. Each character is relatable, but Sydney's character is the most realistic of all. The book was highly enjoyable, but I would have preferred if each "surprise" was a little more expanded upon. It would have made for a longer book, but the resolution was too quick in my opinion. I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. If you are looking for quick read about family dynamics and how life always surprises you, check out this book.

This was a great, quick. light read with alternating perspectives for narration. At times it was a bit predictable, but as a wife, mom and career woman, this felt relatable. It had some different turns that I was not expecting, but it was a story a lot about family. It was about loss, love, growth and how we as a family handle what comes our way. I love how Cullen wrote about the characters and she made them interesting and likable. Overall a great, quick read that as parents, we can easily see ourselves through.

I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
This was a great book !
Jack and Ellie have been happily married for 18 years.
Everything seems to be going their way.
What happens when unexpected challenges come their way?
This is their journey in dealing with these unexpected challenges.
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!

Secrets, secrets, secrets! This was one of those books and stories that is enjoyable because you're not living it! I enjoyed the characters and felt that they were relatable, and I was able to connect with the story without having any background experience.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

First Came Us follows Ellie and Jack Miller and their teenage daughter Sydney. Ellie owns a yoga studio that’s finally starting to turn a profit, Jack is a renowned economics professor at Yale, and Sydney is a straight-A student. They live a relatively normal life until Ellie’s pregnancy test comes back positive, an 18-year-old girl shows up at Jack’s office claiming to be his daughter, and Sydney gets caught up in a secret relationship built on lies with a college boy.

One thing that I liked about this book was the different points of view. My favourite character and point of view was Ellie. I liked that the reader got to see the struggle behind having three children, running her own business, her personal problems, and trying to keep up the charade that everything is picture-perfect. For the most part, I liked Jack, but I did get frustrated with him at times for his lack of honesty and his cluelessness. I really wasn’t a huge fan of Sydney, but that’s because I find that recently I’ve had a difficult time relating to teenagers and their teenage problems.

One thing that annoyed me about this book is that there was so much dishonesty. I found myself wanting to yell at the characters a few times because they were lying, or they weren’t forthcoming with information. I understand that these lies helped fuel the plot and that without them, there wouldn’t be much of a story, but I still found it frustrating. Overall, this book was a reminder that honesty is the best policy and that it helps prevent a lot of major misunderstandings.

My favourite storyline in this book was the relationship between Ellie and Dorothy. Dorothy is an older woman who attends yoga classes at Ellie’s studio, and Ellie takes a special interest in her and her wellbeing. I thought that their relationship was special, and I loved how it helped lead to such a happy ending for the Miller family.

Another thing that annoyed me about this book is the amount of commentary about Ellie’s body. It felt like I was constantly reminded that Ellie was petite and skinny. I understand that part of it was because Ellie didn’t want anyone to know that she was pregnant and that Sydney had self-esteem issues, but I got annoyed with it quickly.

Overall, I liked First Came Us, but I didn’t love it. At times, it felt like it was a bit all over the place, and like there was too much going on. I liked the majority of the characters, and my issues with Sydney stem from a general lack of patience with teenagers. I liked that this book showed a family that wasn’t picture perfect and that was struggling to juggle everything that was going on. I recommend checking out this book if you’re looking for something quick with an ending that will make you smile.

I wonderful and enjoyable read. I read it in 2 sittings and Rachel Cullen writes a smart, relatable novel of family, love, and what is truly important in life. Written in different Points of View it brings out the characters. Perfect for the beach, a cozy reading day, or anytime. You'll want to check out her other books! #rachelcullenauthor #NetGalley