I would like to thank the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This book explores two people who are in the same hospital ward and how they heal, both physically and mentally. The characters are so well developed and you find yourself rooting for them from the very start. It is a lovely read and I would recommend it to anyone.

OH MY GOD! I am blessed that I came across this book in this life. This book has become one of my favourites now.
The story is so different and powerful. The message is so clear. The characters are so full of life. The author has her way with words.
I didn't just read this book, I lived it.

I will putting up the full review soon at www.theenigmatoccreation.in

A really important reminder about not judging appearances and how people are like icebergs, we have no idea what's going on under the surface - in the form of a wonderful and heartfelt book. I cared about both characters quickly and deeply. A heartwarming and cathartic read.

Review Before I saw you by Emily Houghton

Alfie is a patient in a rehabilitation ward in St Francis who is recovering from a car accident having had his foot amputated. Suddenly a new patient arrives in the ward and is placed beside Alfie. As Alice has suffered having received severe burns in a fire she is enclosed by curtains and no one can see or hear her as she can’t/ won’t speak when she arrives. The book follows the journey of the patients in the ward and the way people adapt in adversity.

Fantastic story beautifully written I have laughed and cried at the story that covers very difficult situations.

Firstly I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This book was absolutely brilliant it follows the story of Alice and Alfie who are both recovering from serious accidents in hospital and end up in beds next to one another. The characters were so real and I laughed and cried along with them, I read the book almost in one sitting because I couldn't bear to be separated from the story and the characters, I cannot recommend this book highly enough and it is a story that will remain with me for a long time.

Before I Saw You is an entertaining, amusing romantic novel, which covers some serious issues and evokes all emotions.
Is it possible to fall in love before seeing the other person? Yes, of course it is; as blind/ visually impaired people do it all of the time. But for sighted people it is certainly not the norm, and for Alice and Alfie it is most unusual circumstances as they are both in a rehabilitation unit in a hospital, separated by a curtain. They have yet to set eyes on each other. Could they possibly develop strong romantic feelings for each other on the basis of their conversations? Will they feel the same way once they see each other?
Before I See You is a good romantic novel, with two strong main characters, a lovely storyline and so well written. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and #NetGalley for giving me an ARC of #BeforeISawYou by #EmilyHoughton in exchange for my honest review.

3 Stars - ***

Alice is in a horrific fire at her office which leaves her with horrendous scarring. She cannot look at herself let alone let anyone else look at her. She spends her recovery in hospital hidden behind her cubicle curtains in silence.

In the bed next to Alice is Alfie who was in an accident of his own resulting in him having his leg amputated. Alfie is the life and soul of the ward and the patients very much become as close as family. Alfie makes it his mission to help Alice to initially speak and then eventually come to love herself as she is.

As Alice and Alfie get to know each other more, will their relationship develop further?

This book was a lovely read and the writing was superb. If you want an easy romance novel to get lost in then this is definitely for you. There are some wonderful characters, with one of my favorites being Mr Peterson, a 92 year old who had a wonderful sense of humor. I found it to be just a bit too predictable although I did enjoy it.

I wanted to like this book as the concept behind it is strong and the writing of a high quality. However, I couldn't cope with Alfie's relentless positivity. If I were stuck in a hospital room with him I would jump out of a window. I came back onto this site to see what others thought and broadly agree with the other reviews. If the story is not properly resolved, I will be giving the rest of it a miss.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Before I met you is a book that gave me palpitations & tachycardia and just when my heart rate started to normalize, it abruptly ended.

With 85% of this book set in a recovery ward at a hospital, two strangers whose beds were right beside each other formed a bond that had me shook. Each of them had no idea what the other person looked like but they bonded on the trauma and the will to be there for each other.

This was a beautiful story. Although, it felt dragged on a little bit and ended too abruptly for my liking. After so much buildup with the plot, that was a far too rushed ending, in my opinion.

There were so many heart fluttering moments in this book. I was pleased with how it made me feel.

I definitely look forward to reading more from this author.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it blew me away.
When I began reading, the horror in which Alice went through made goosebumps grow up my arm, and Alfie’s pain he hid behind laughter and a good time was so beautiful to read. But it was the beauty of them connecting, of them finding something in the other no one else could ever give them.
Those late night talks had me pleading for more.
And in my opinion, the ending is more brilliant than I wished for even as I was reading it. Allowing us the chance to imagine what comes next is wonderful, as was the relationship that was built between these two people.
The characterisations, the ward and the hospital all seemed perfect. The story had brilliant pace and was an enjoyable read from start to finish. I honestly couldn’t put it down, it was one of the best books I’ve read this year and I can’t believe I have to wait AGESSS for it to come out to shove it at my friends.

I only intended to read for an hour or so but I just kept reading. I needed to find out what happened to Alfie and Alice!
They meet in hospital after they've both had accidents and get to know each other through hospital curtains.
I was rooting for both characters all the way through. They both became more complex as the story went on and it explored their lives and anxieties.
The story was sensitive but didn't shy away from difficult issues. There were some brilliant characters who helped the characters along with their kindness and support.
I'd recommend sitting down with this one.

I picked this book because of the interesting premise. Two patients in a hospital room where they cannot see each other but form an unlikely friendship. Or relationship or whatever was possible. The question I was asked in the book blurb was “can you fall in love with someone you’ve never seen”. I was very curious how this book would tackle that question. I was definitely invested in the plot and questioned myself was it possible to love someone that you cannot see?

Alice and Alfre had serious accidents that landed them in the hospital for several weeks. We learned their emotional and at times painful backstories. I admit I had tears over the sad and heartbreaking stories. Alfre used humor and positivity to tackle his emotions and experiences. He was an amazing person to try to befriend Alice who has been traumatized from her past and current accidents that she always had a curtain surround her. They form this beautiful relationship that made me wonder what will happen next. I couldn’t put it down because of it. The side characters were amazing and a joy to read. . I especially loved Nurse Angel. To be gifted with someone so loving among tragedy was a gift.

Now to my question of mixed genders in the same hospital room. Is that a reality? I had no idea, so I assumed in London that it was. I was also very disappointed in the ending. There wasn’t an epilogue or a proper ending. I felt cheated!!!! I literally had to sit for a while to grasp that that was it. I wished for a better ending.

Overall, it was a good book that pulled me in from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this book to others and forewarned though that this was more than just an ordinary romance book.

I received the ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
Before I Saw You is an interesting read on a subject that is very deep both emotionally and physically. The story is set in a hospital ward where two patients are in the cubicles next to each other, recovering from serious accidents. The extent of Alice's injuries means that the curtains remained closed around her and Alfie's mission is to get to know her through the curtain wall.

The story is told from the point of view of both patients and is predominately set in the hospital ward. Alfie's chapters were easier to read in terms of the dept of his character whereas I did struggle to get through Alice's chapters as they did seem to drag on a bit.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book and I was invested in the outcome. Like a lot of reviewers, I was hoping for an extra chapter or an epilogue to see how they made it out in the real world so was left a little disappointed.

I adored this story of boy meets girl, and it absolutely deserves 5 stars.

A rom-com with a difference, this book tells the story of Alfie and Alice, who meet on a rehabilitation ward in hospital while he recovers from a leg amputation and she recovers from serious burns It sounds as if laughter and romance couldn't stem from such a scenario but the author gives us warmth, love and gentle humour by the bucket load.

Alice is initially a very spiky character and reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant. She is so traumatised by her injuries that she will not allow anyone to see her, shielding herself from the rest of the ward with her cubicle curtains and refusing to speak at all. Alfie, lying next to her, is determined to get to know his ward mate and as the weeks go by, the pair who have both been through so much, find themselves growing closer and more supportive of each other.

With a cast of wonderful supporting characters - Nurse Angles must surely be in for the 'Nurse of the Year; award, Alfie's lovely parents, Sarah - the best friend a girl could have and of course their fellow ward mates, this story at times brought a lump to my throat, and I did cry at one point (happy tears!)..

I think my favourite quote of the book was "Our scars are simply the mark of our stories. They show we've lived our life, and most of all that we have survived it. Don't hide your story away in the shadows." Beautifully put.

Now I will be honest and say that as I work in the NHS I had to suspend some disbelief for the story as it would be highly unlikely to have a mixed sex ward with men lying next to women, or in fact to have burns patients, amputees and stroke patients altogether on the same ward but if you allow for a little artistic licence you are in for a treat.

Must read!

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There are books that truly tug at your heart strings. Of the ones I’ve read this year, I can count them on one hand. Oh, but this? This one needs to be counted twice.

The book is set in a hospital ward for long-term patients. One where the residents are a sprightly lot and the nurses willing to occasionally overlook their whimsies. I have a fondness for ninety-two-year-old Mr. Peterson—sharp as a tack and always needing to be put in place.

Alfie and Alice are struggling with PTSD; Alice more - her accident being recent and the memories horrifyingly vivid. With little to no information on the extent of her injuries, Alfie is persistent in breaking down her walls, if only by the sound of his voice, while fraught with worry about his future.

This story is heartbreaking, tragic, crushing you with pain and longing. At more than a few places my eyes welled up. Inspite of that, it is the power of faith and the brightness of hope that makes the novel beautifully romantic. Once you finish, you’ll be caught between wishing you could turn back time and wondering what happened next.

This ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Transworld Publishers.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Before I Saw You in exchange for an honest review.

The book, split between two POV's - that of a man who has lost his leg in an accident and that of the woman in the neighbouring hospital bed who has been badly burned in a fire - offers a heartwarming look at recovery, romance and psychological trauma following an accident.

The chapters written in the male POV - a teacher named Alfie - are enjoyable reads, showing a complex battle between the desire to remain positive and the inner trauma following an accident. His relationships with the other ward members are touching, particularly when Mr P is involved and, as a result, he is a lovable character and one which the reader enjoys learning about.

The other chapters, from the POV of Alice, a businesswoman, are less enjoyable. Not due to the complex trauma which the reader learns about, but due to the writing style. Alice is often presented with little redeeming qualities and the writing can seem long winded, with little action.

The ending, however, is what lets the book down. Predictable and rushed, we see a new side to Alfie, which makes for an intriguing read, though it is quickly pushed aside in a matter of three or four chapters. The pacing of the novel changes and it makes it an unsatisfying end.

Houghton does provide an easy read, but it is not a particularly memorable one. Her characterisation of Alfie is wonderful and shows promise throughout, but her pacing is erratic and some chapters can seemingly drag on.

Before I Saw You is a book with much more depth than it first seems. It follows Alfie and Alice, both recovering from accidents which have changed the course of their lives. Alfie has lost a leg following a car crash, and Alice's office building caught fire leaving her with severe burns.

This book is marked as a romance, but there's much more than that in this book. While Alfie and Alice's relationship growing is lovely to see. It chronicles Alfie and Alice's rehabilitation, physical therapy after their respective accidents. There's also a lot of camaraderie between the residents on the ward. When there's not a lot of change in scenery, having such a rich cast of characters is a perfect addition.

One downfall of this book for me was the ending. It felt quite rushed and undeveloped. I think even an epilogue would have helped this, as the moment was built up to so much over the course of the novel. However, the ending feels rather anti-climatic and unrewarding.

This book felt like a long, heart aching journey. But in a good way. I could feel all the way with Alfie‘s and Alice‘s pain, their laughter and anxiety. It’s a emotional rollercoaster that you don‘t want to miss.


Alice is very strong headed and stubborn but doesn‘t has a chance against Alfie‘s boyish charme and his witty behavior.
Alice and Alfie both deal with their own issues but try to get through the day.
I loved the deep conversations between them and how they both individually deal with different but not so different problems and seek each other out to feel some comfort even through a curtain.
They start to get to know each other and start building a connection even though they don‘t know how the other one looks.
I especially loved this aspect because it shows that you don’t need to know how someone looks to get to know and like them and how superficial things can get even before you get to know another person.

This book proofed how deep a connection between two people can go and I adored it so much.

Before I Saw You had a twist on the normal romance novels in that the two main characters Alice and Alfie have never seen each other and are both recovering from life altering traumas.

I felt like the depression, anxiety, PTSD, struggles the characters go through after their respective accidents are an accurate portrayal of what it is like to live through a physical trauma. They were honest in those emotions and that you can’t always be positive or strong and sometimes it feels easier to be stubborn and wallow in your grief.

The dynamic in the recovery ward with other patients added a cute additional storyline especially how people in those situations can form a close bond with each other. Also, the focus on the relationship between patient and nurses and the incredibly amazing job nurses have to do everyday being not only a physical caregiver but also emotional support.

While I really enjoyed this book what it needed was an Epilogue. You spend the whole book waiting for this one moment and then that’s it, book over. I wanted to know more about life after the hospital as usually that is when it can get tough for a patient and you have to integrate back into normal life. But really, I needed more at the ending.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Before I saw you was an engaging and entertaining read; gripping from the start.

Pacy and readable I was invested in the characters from the off, and even shed a tear at the death of one of the minor characters.

I was rooting for the main characters and had a small cheer at the ending.

I would recommend this book to others.