WOW!!!! Loved this. Jem’s life isn’t going so great. The letter pouring her heart out to ex boyfriend Ben has accidentally ended up in the post - he was never meant to see it. Best friend Leanne has suggested she tries Tinder, and things start to look up when she connects with Mitch who she knew from school. All seems to be going ok, but halfway through the book something makes you feel a bit uncomfortable about their relationship. This was a really great read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved this , just finished it and was crying buckets . Happy tears though . When Jem writes a letter to Ben , her ex .it's never meant to be read so when Jem's mum thinks she is doing her a favour by posting it , Jem's world implodes . Dealing with the aftermath of everything that happened in her past and looking after her ailing mum Jem really doesn't have time for anything else . When she meets an old friend from school the romance is fast and though we as readers can see that all isn't right Jem is convinced that he is the one who can make her forget all her past mistakes . This was a brilliant read , funny in parts , heart breaking in others . I loved Jem's relationship with her mum and best friend Leanne . I am now off to download another by Anna Mansell … Fantastic

Emotional moving heart wrenching a novel that kept me turning the pages..I was so emotionally involved in I needed a box of tissues near me at all times.So well written highly recommend this beautiful novel.#netgalley#bookoutture.

What a gorgeous story! It had me laughing out loud a lot and it had me snivelling as many times.

How can you really love someone when you don't know how to love yourself? How can you take care of someone when you don't take care of yourself?

This is a beautiful and at times hilarious story about learning to get to know yourself and even more important learning to accept who you are. You don't have to always agree or do what someone else says. Some might only have their best intrests at heart and yours are only second best.

Kudos to that one best friend who will stand by you through thick and thin.

I loved the way Jem developed and finally saw the sun peaking through her darkest clouds. 5 stars

Thank you, Anna Mansell and Bookouture

Last week I received an ARC of this book from Bookouture for review and as I was in the mood for something light to read I dove right in. Big mistake. I could not put the book down and read it in one sitting.

The man I loved before tells the story of Jem. Jem is doing fine. She has a job, lives with her mother, likes to hang out with her best friend and is thinking about dating again, after recovering from a broken heart. To put the past in the past she writes one final letter to her ex, with the intention to burn it. Her mother finds the letter and decides to post. And that’s when Jem’s world starts to fall apart.

This is the first novel of Anna Mansell I have read, so I can only compare it to other books in it’s genre. Mansell’s style is breezy, chatty, which makes it easy for readers to catch on. The characters are likeable and the things they go through are so relatable and heartbreaking, it doesn’t take long to feel connected to them. The character I loved most in this book was Jem’s mum. She is the sweetest person, letting her daughter find her own way in life and wanting nothing but the best for her.

I don’t read a lot of books in this genre, but when I do, I like it when the romance and the heartbreak are mixed with a good dose of humor. If the book is lacking anything it’s just that. The plot is good, the characters are well developed and I truly sympathized with Jem. If only there would’ve been a few witty or snarky remarks every once in a while. I know she had it in her.

All in all The man I loved before is a lovely, catchy read. I’ve grown fond of Jem and her mum and I’m sure other readers will as well. Would definitely recommend reading it!

I'm not crying..you're crying.
Omg what a touching book. Couldn't put this one down. Drew me in and lived each and every one of the characters. Having dealt with cancer myself and in my family this one hit close to home. Was honored to have an early copy of this fantastic book.

Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an early release.