I feel like I need to review the first three quarters and the last quarter separately. The first part had me BORED. I wasn’t really invested in any of the characters, considering how much I usually love Beth’s characters, and it seemed to be another romance book with very little storyline.

However, the last quarter blew me away. I did not see the ‘twist’ coming and it almost made me cry. It was really great, but I can’t forget how much the rest of the book bored me, so if you can push through for a great ending, I highly recommend, but if you want to be gripped from page one, I wouldn’t bother.

Before I Saw You is a wonderful story about Alice and Alfie who both had life-changing accidents. It's a story about healing an falling in love without ever having seen each other. The ending was a bit rushed.
If you're a fan of Me Before You this book might be for you. Thanks NetGalley for the acr!!

Goodness me - this is marketed as a romcom but cover notwithstanding, Alfie and Alice meet on the rehab ward of a hospital after terrible, traumatic accidents but also difficult lives beforehand. You can believe their growing bond but it's a fairly difficult read if you're not strong on medical details. I was surprised to find the author wasn't a medic and apparently hasn't been through a similar situation as it was quite a distinct background to use.

3.5 stars!

A rollercoaster of emotions.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book but it was so many things rolled into one.

If you love a good bittersweet emotional story, this is for you!

I’m going to start off this one with a content warning/spoiler warning - check out at the end for more information.

Now that’s over with, why oh why didn’t I read this sooner. This was such a roller coaster of emotions as you follow Alice and Alfie, dealing with their own respective trauma, slowly connecting and forming their relationship despite not setting eyes on each other for a very long time.

I’ve read other stories of this vein before but BISY really develops the characters, both their backstories, thought processes, and how they’re feeling about what’s happened and what is happening. So I really connected with both our main characters - and I loved that they each told their own story.

I also loved the supporting characters in this story - they’re fellow patients, nurses, friends and family. They all added such depth to this story - and there were parts that brought a tear to my eye. Recommended reading!!

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Penguin Random House and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.
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⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: reference and detail to suicidal thoughts, grief, trauma ⚠️

Heartfelt & beautiful I adored this novel!
All the characters were so richly drawn you couldn't help rooting for them.
It sounds like quite a depressing read & yes it's got some teary moments but it's overwhelming hopeful

A charming and beautifully written book. A wonderful story filled with emotion. Would definitely recommend.

An enjoyable read with a lot of depth carried within and the main characters were very likeable. I would definitely recommend and will continue to seek out Emily's other work.

There was a lot to like about this book- two main characters, a message of love finding a way etc, but it didn't entirely land for me.

I suppose that when it comes to reaching romance novels, I do actually want romance- and while there was a lot here, the ending seemed a bit too rushed and I didn't entirely buy into the chemistry between the two of them. It was charming rather than funny, but that is OK if the romance really works but sometimes it jarred.

I think those who enjoy this kind of thing will really enjoy it, because it is sweet and thoughtful, but it didn't grab me as I wanted it to.

This book was high up on my wish-list, however I haven't been able to finish it yet after trying to pick it up again many times over the last few months. Pacing was slow and I lost interest.

An emotional story of two people connected by their injuries. The pace was too slow for me and I was unable to finish the novel.

This isn't your usual chick lit type of book - I really enjoyed it - there are some harsh/sad/emotional parts as well as some laugh out loud moments. A lovely easy read.
Alice and Alfie are both in hospital recovering from injuries - They haven't seen each other as there are curtains separating them - they begin to tell each other things and rely on their friendship.

Two long term rehabilitation patients on the same ward for entirely different reasons.
Alfie is the long termer with a stable family and a terrible accident
Alice is alone, refusing to speak and be seen because of her accident

A few feet apart they have never seen each other but through the long nights they talk and find that they can help each other to heal.

A lovely story

This is a beautifully written story with real depth added to the characters.

I loved meeting Alice and Alfie and watching their relationship develop. Alfie has a strength about him that is captured so wonderfully in the writing. Sarah, and Mr P, and Nurse Angles were all wonderful secondary characters as well, and I loved the humour they added to what must be a very difficult situation.

The issues in this book were handled with sensitivity and it was just a joy to see each character's tales unfold.

Definitely an author I will be seeking out again!

I absolutely loved this book, it was easily one of my favourite reads of 2021. The premise was fascinating and the cover really drew my eye. A brilliant read and easily in my top ten for the year.

Alice and Alfie have both been in horrific accidents, resulting in them having to spend an extended amount of time in hospital while recovering. As roommates, they talk, do puzzles together and help each other through day by day. But neithr has seen the other person, as a curtain divides their room. As their friendship turns into something more and with both nearing their hospital departure dates, can they get the courage to face each other?

This was such a sweet love story, amid the backdrop of both character's healing. There were times when Alice really annoyed me but then I don't know how I would act if I had been in her same situation. I loved Alfie and I loved the perfect ending. I enjoyed this author's writing style and look forward to her next book coming out soon.

This is technically a romance, but is really more of a self-discovery and self-recovery story, with just hints of romance on the side.

Alfie and Alice, the two main characters whose viewpoints we follow, have very different personalities but both are struggling with recovery from some very serious physical injuries which have resulted in even more serious emotional and mental scars. Alfie has lost a leg in a car accident, but is haunted more by what else he lost at the same time, and Alice has severe facial burns and has lost all confidence in being seen or heard or valued in any way at all.

The ‘unseen love’ tag line makes it clear that the two are destined for some form of HEA, but I’m not really sure I felt much in the way of romantic chemistry – it felt like more of an intense friendship and protective bond that was forming between them. Still, I really liked that the author didn’t fall into the easy trope of love ‘fixing’ them or their problems. Instead, she makes it clear that the issues Alice and Alfie face – trauma recovery, loneliness, depression, self-doubt, people-pleasing – are all long-term issues that they need to keep working on and struggling with for the foreseeable future. The only difference is, having someone there to hold your hand.

I enjoyed reading this story and the characters in it, but I never quite felt like I fully engaged emotionally in the way I would like to. It is a brilliant concept for a story and well-written, and while not an ‘easy’ read in terms of content, it was a quick and smooth read with some sensitive insight into trauma and the path to recovery.

Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton is a touching story about Alice and Alfie as they recover in hospital from terrible accidents. The setting was certainly unusual, and the book had interesting characters. However, some of the dialogue between Alfie and Alice seemed almost childlike and unbelievable to me. Nevertheless, it's a decent read, and I would give this three out of five stars,

Fresh, funny and heartwarming. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

This is a departure from my usual genre but the cover and the premise enticed me in. I wasn't disappointed and enjoyed the unfolding relationship as it progressed.